Friday, 31 May 2013

GAZA -- A ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid was held on the third anniversary on Friday at Gaza port.

Kemal Ozturk, the Anadolu Agency Executive Board Chairman and Director General, who was in Gaza for the inauguration of the agency's Gaza office, delivered a speech at the ceremony where authorities representing the Foreign Ministry of Palestine in Gaza and the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) and head of Anadolu Agency Arabic Desk Turan Kislakci were also present.

Ozturk stated the Mavi Marmara flotilla attack marked one of the deepest sorrows of Turkey in history.

Stating that nine people were killed and tens others were wounded, Ozturk said, "I'd like to say something to the brave children of Palestine. The Palestine issue is the issue of all Muslims. And the Muslim community expects one thing from you. They expect Palestinian brothers reconcile. And hopefully we will be first to announce their news of making peace."

Gaza representative of IHH Mehmet Kaya sent his condolences and added, "Muslims from Turkey are always on your side and hopefully will be until Palestine is freed." more

Between Gaza’s five universities, more than 2,000 young people graduate with technical degrees every year. Mercy Corps started the Arab Developer Network Initiative (ADNI) with a grant from Google.org a few years ago, and a number of programs supporting young entrepreneurs have come out of it, including Gaza Sky Geeks.

The laboratory will support standout technology entrepreneurs in Gaza, providing a wide range of free services designed to help them turn their ideas into viable investments. Global Envision connected with Reem Omran, co-founder of Gaza Sky Geeks, to talk about the effort – and whether Gaza could become the next IT hub in the Arab world.

What’s the blueprint for helping start-ups?
Reem Omran: The primary objective of Gaza Sky Geeks is to prepare start-ups for the next stage. We will provide logistical and consulting services, as well as workshops that can help them turn their ideas into concrete business plans capable of securing investment.

What resources does the accelerator offer?
Gaza Sky Geeks is outfitted with high-speed internet, desktop computers, iPads, and Androids[mc1] so that members have a reliable space to work on their projects. Members also have access to meeting spaces and a coffee shop, where they can network and collaborate on ideas. more

BEIRUT (AFP) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad threatened Israel with renewed fighting in the Golan Heights and said Russia was committed to supplying him with advanced missiles, in an interview broadcast Thursday.

Washington warned that any such weapon deliveries from Moscow would only prolong the conflict between government forces and Assad's foes in Syria, where activists say more than 94,000 people have been killed since March 2011.

"There is clear popular pressure to open a new front of resistance in the Golan," Assad told Al-Manar television, run by his close ally, the Lebanon-based Shiite movement Hezbollah which has been fighting alongside his forces.

"There are several factors, including repeated Israeli aggression," he said, referring to reported Israeli air strikes on Syria.

"We have informed all the parties who have contacted us that we will respond to any Israeli aggression next time."

There was no immediate comment on Assad's remarks from Israel, which annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, years after seizing it, in a move never recognized by the international community. more